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Epoch Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Cuba Now a Strategic Battleground for China Against the US
Commentary Cuba has been impoverished by years of communist control, but it possesses a strategic vantage point that China prizes. Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in his congressional testimony on May 6 that Cuba is a 'strategic battleground' with China. Twenty sensitive U.S. government facilities in Florida are in range of the expanding Chinese Cyber and Signals Intelligence Collection network in Cuba. Even before the Russians minimized their presence in Cuba in 2002, the Chinese were eyeing the Caribbean country. 'According to an article in El Nuevo Herald, the two reportedly signed an agreement granting China access to a number of former Soviet listening stations across the island, including the Bejucal base less than 10 miles from the old Lourdes station,' he noted. Related Stories 5/14/2025 5/13/2025 As part of the path toward resolving the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy pledged publicly Chinese Military and Intelligence Network Grows in Cuba In the summer of 2023, Cuba leapt onto the front pages with the sudden, Then, The Associated Press reported there was an anonymous Biden administration official who confirmed that this started in 2019, which was a clever way of deflecting responsibility toward President Donald Trump. Berg pointed out that then-National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby 'reversed course and admitted to China's spy bases in Cuba, but insisted that its presence had existed since 2019 under the first Trump administration, implying the Biden administration had 'inherited' the challenge.' 'Around the same time, reports surfaced that China was pursuing the construction of a military training base in Cuba,' he added. Kirby had apparently missed the 1999 visit by Gen. Chi Haotian. In July 2024, The Chinese regime's presence in Cuba is just one element of Chinese surveillance surrounding Florida. China has been Gen. Glen VanHerck, former commander of U.S. Northern Command, pointed out, before the Chinese spy balloon episode, Cuba Receives Promises of Chinese Support Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in Moscow on May 9 during the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said about the meeting, 'China is ready to work with Cuba to further strengthen their ironclad friendship, build a closer China–Cuba community with a shared future, and set an example of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries and sincere interaction between developing countries.' In addition, the BRICS alliance—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—welcomed Cuba into the organization on Jan. 1, 2025, The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has developed an alliance with Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and South Africa in its 'no limits' strategy to take on the United States, and it appears Cuba is entering this grouping of communist and totalitarian countries. CCP Lures Latin American Countries Wi th Financial Offer Following the U.S.–China tariff truce, China hosted a forum with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Beijing on May 13. Left-leaning leaders in Latin America, such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, were in attendance. The CCP used a Belt and Road Initiative power play and extended a credit line of $9.2 billion to the Latin American countries in attendance, with a very important caveat: The currency used in the line of credit would be the Chinese yuan. The move, which excluded the global reserve currencies like the U.S. dollar, aimed to promote the yuan while China deepens its ties in the Americas. Of all the opportunities in the Americas, Cuba offers China the greatest return on investment. The short distance to the United States from Cuba allows the CCP a key intelligence observation point and a way to create a counterbalance of world support for Taiwan. There may not yet be missiles in Cuba, or at least they haven't been identified, but another Cuban crisis is developing. As a Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Total uncertainty': Cuban migrants left in legal limbo under Trump's new policies
The rules have changed abruptly for thousands of Cuban migrants in the United States after the Trump administration canceled the humanitarian parole program launched under President Biden. More than 100,000 Cubans arrived in the U.S. under humanitarian parole. Many have not yet been in the country for a full year and are already receiving notices placing them in an uncertain immigration status. One of them is independent journalist and activist Lázaro Yuri Valle, who says he has spent over three decades opposing the Cuban government. Valle received a notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ordering him to leave the country by April 25, 2025. The letter arrived days after the parole program was officially canceled on March 25. Yuri and his wife, fellow activist Eralidis Frómeta, entered the U.S. on June 5, 2024, through an application submitted by a relative and approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Before emigrating, Valle served a three-year prison sentence in Cuba. He says he was physically and psychologically abused while incarcerated, and that his health was seriously impacted. 'We left in very poor psychological condition. We went straight to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to stay with my wife's family,' Valle told el Nuevo Herald. He says he was targeted by Cuban authorities for peaceful actions such as handing out leaflets with quotes from José Martí. Thousands of Cubans were able to settle in the U.S. through humanitarian parole. In South Florida, the program has drawn criticism for allegedly failing to screen individuals with ties to the Cuban regime. But the repeal offers no exceptions and now affects cases like Valle and Frómeta's, who say they had strong reasons to flee the island. Valle says that if deported, he will continue to speak out against the Cuban government and plans to protest as soon as he lands in Havana. On Trump's actions, he said the president is 'fixing things however he wants,' without passing judgment. 'Trump follows the policies he finds convenient. Everyone cleans up their own house however they want. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's affecting those of us who have nothing to do with his politics,' he told el Nuevo Herald. Valle insists that both he and his wife have been victims of political persecution, and that international organizations have documented their cases. Among them, he cites the Organization of American States (OAS). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), through its Americas Program, has expressed concern on social media after learning that both received DHS letters warning of possible deportation. 'I thank this country for welcoming my wife and me. We shouldn't be going through this,' Valle said. 'But many of the regime's henchmen have arrived here and are still active here.' He warns that returning to Cuba would endanger his life. 'Going back would be a death sentence —a form of suicide after saving ourselves,' he said. It's an uncertain scenario for thousands of Cubans like them. Immigration attorneys agree that applying for asylum is a viable path to avoid deportation —as long as applicants meet legal and timing requirements. Attorney Wilfredo Allen told el Nuevo Herald that this is the most viable option for those who have not yet completed a year of physical presence in the U.S. and are hoping to qualify under the Cuban Adjustment Act. The cancellation of parole, effective April 25, will terminate the conditional release granted to beneficiaries upon entering the U.S., Allen explained. Those who haven't started another immigration process may face removal orders unless they apply for asylum or other legal relief. Faced with this situation, Valle and Frómeta decided to file for asylum, following advice from friends and attorneys. Frómeta, who was part of the Ladies in White movement in Cuba, said, 'We had no other choice,' and added that they are already receiving legal guidance. 'What will happen? I don't know. But we're sure we suffered under a dictatorship, and our story is documented in the media and by several international NGOs. We also have plenty of evidence and witnesses, including fellow activists who are now refugees here,' she said. Another Cuban dissident awaiting a court ruling is activist Esteban Rodríguez, who also entered the U.S. with a Form I-220A. He says he shares the sense of uncertainty many of his fellow Cubans are feeling. Rodríguez, a member of the San Isidro Movement —whose leader, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, remains imprisoned in Cuba— arrived in the United States in 2022 after being forced into exile. Months earlier, he was arrested in Havana for peacefully protesting in support of Otero Alcántara, who was then on a hunger strike. From Miami, Rodríguez warns that Trump's new policies could jeopardize the safety of people who came to the U.S. seeking refuge. He says the new restrictions have renewed fears of deportation. Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate —an influential exile organization— called the potential repatriation of activists and human rights defenders 'deeply unjust.' 'Those who entered the country legally shouldn't be sent back to a totalitarian regime. Cubans have made great contributions to the U.S., and they deserve the opportunity to build a future here —especially those persecuted by the Havana regime,' Gutiérrez-Boronat told el Nuevo Herald. Political opponents aren't the only ones at risk. González, a 23-year-old Cuban who also arrived with an I-220A, told el Nuevo Herald his story and asked to be identified only by his last name. He still hasn't received a court date and remains vulnerable to possible deportation. 'Trump's policies are harsh on all Latinos. The future is uncertain —we don't know what could happen,' González said. 'You try to stay under the radar. If I get sent back to Cuba, I have family there —but it means starting over, maybe under surveillance. And then there's the depression, after getting used to a country where anything is possible and returning to one where even food is scarce.' Form I-220A, also known as a 'Parole Order,' is a temporary admission document similar to conditional parole. Immigration officials have used it for people entering across the southern border, including migrants from other countries, attorney Allen explained. The form has been the subject of litigation in immigration courts. A legal ruling determined that individuals holding I-220A do not meet the admission requirements for the Cuban Adjustment Act. 'There have been legal battles over I-220A and Cubans since 2018,' Allen said. However, some attorneys argue that it should count as valid admission for immigration purposes. For the first time since the Cuban Revolution, migrants from the island are facing a situation in the United States that contrasts with the welcome the country traditionally offered to those fleeing communism. The Cuban political system —described as authoritarian by numerous international organizations— is going through one of its most severe crises in decades, with growing reports of repression and crackdowns on dissent. Eduardo Gamarra, professor of political science and international relations at Florida International University (FIU), told el Nuevo Herald that this moment marks a significant departure from previous eras. He pointed to President Obama's January 2017 decision to end the 'wet foot, dry foot' policy as a turning point in U.S. policy toward Cuban migrants. Now, Trump's new measures are impacting people who have already been living in the United States for months —even those who entered through official channels like humanitarian parole. Gamarra believes part of the public narrative has painted a negative image of this new Cuban migration wave, which has, in turn, helped justify recent policy decisions. But similar dynamics have occurred before. He cites the 1980 Mariel boatlift as an example, which also sparked backlash against new arrivals. 'I worked with many Mariel boatlift cases, including in California. It was a unique experience —no one knew who these new Cubans were. Many had no ID, and there was a widespread perception that they were criminals or mentally unstable,' Gamarra said. 'But most of them weren't, and they played a key role in Miami's development.' Unlike in the 1980s, Gamarra notes that Cubans arriving under the Biden parole program underwent background checks. Still, some long-settled Cuban Americans have stigmatized the newcomers, using labels like 'Castro's animals' or 'communists.' He says those same terms still resonate in today's debates. The parole program implemented by the Biden administration —which also benefited citizens of Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti— was one of the first to be challenged by President Trump upon his return to the White House. Since taking office again, the Republican leader has vowed to restrict what he calls an 'uncontrolled invasion' fueled by Democratic immigration policies. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 110,000 Cubans were authorized to travel to the United States through the program, which has granted entry to over half a million people from participating countries. Despite recent restrictions, a significant portion of the Cuban American community continues to support Trump's rhetoric. An FIU poll published in October 2024 found that 68% of likely Cuban American voters in Miami-Dade County planned to vote for Trump in the November election. Cuban authorities have not released official figures on the number of nationals deported since Trump took office. However, a March 27 report indicated that a flight carrying 60 Cuban migrants arrived in Havana from the United States. In February, Cuba's Ministry of the Interior reported another deportation flight with 104 passengers, including social media influencer Cinthya Medrano —known as 'La Cintumbare'— who had previously boasted online about her lifestyle in the U.S. and her access to government benefits. The profile of recent Cuban migrants has become a point of debate. FIU professor Eduardo Gamarra notes that some sectors believe not all are political refugees, but rather economic migrants seeking better opportunities. He adds that this narrative is reinforced by reports of some new arrivals returning to Cuba shortly after obtaining U.S. residency. 'People are like that—they create prejudices and comparisons,' Gamarra said. 'This perception isn't unique to Cubans; it happens with every migrant group. We don't yet know what political impact these new policies will have. In the end, it may be that economic performance —not immigration— determines the outcome for Trump and the Republican Party.' Laura, a Cuban migrant admitted through parole in July 2024, told el Nuevo Herald—asking to be identified only by her first name—that she felt 'desperate, like living in in a nightmare' upon hearing that the program had been revoked. She said she had just four months left before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Now, she fears losing her legal status despite entering the country lawfully. The 1966 law allows Cuban nationals to apply for legal permanent residency after one year and one day of physical presence in the U.S., provided they meet eligibility requirements. But the cancellation of parole has thrown plans into uncertainty for many who hoped to qualify. The humanitarian parole program was designed to last two years, giving recipients temporary legal status. During that time, beneficiaries were expected to find a pathway to adjust their immigration status or eventually return to their home countries. Immigration attorneys recommend applying for asylum as an alternative path —particularly for those who have not yet met the minimum time required under the Adjustment Act. Frustrated, Laura said she suffers from constant anxiety and doesn't currently have the financial means to hire an attorney or gather the necessary documentation for an asylum case. The climate of fear has disrupted the daily lives of many Cuban migrants, who now worry about being approached by immigration agents. 'I didn't have that fear before,' she said. 'But now? You don't know. I don't even feel safe driving.' That sense of vulnerability is shared by other recently arrived Cubans. Rodríguez, 53, who also requested to be identified only by her last name, told el Nuevo Herald she entered the U.S. using the CBP One mobile app after waiting five months in Mexico, where she arrived via a land route through Nicaragua. She now lives in Las Vegas. She recalls hearing Trump speak favorably about Cubans while visiting restaurants in the city. But now, she said, 'He gives us no respite. Not even as residents will we be able to move and live with peace of mind.' Rodríguez believes that both humanitarian parole and CBP One offered lifelines to people fleeing authoritarian regimes. 'We came to pursue our dreams, fight for opportunities, and build better lives,' she said. Recent deportations have sparked mixed reactions within the Cuban community. Some have chosen to self-deport rather than risk detention. Two weeks ago, news broke that 22-year-old Erick Dayan Corcho Aguilar, who had entered the U.S. through the parole program, voluntarily returned to Cuba after failing to renew his immigration status. Meanwhile, Yuliet Rodes, a Cuban immigrant living in Miami, said she was able to reunite her family through humanitarian parole. 'They all work and have integrated into society, and now they're terrified of being deported,' she said. 'Things in Cuba are awful —there's no medicine, no electricity, no drinking water.' Rodes concluded: 'I hope Cuba will one day be free. But for now, my family is here, working and paying taxes. All they want is to move forward and stay in the United States. We Cubans fled an oppressive regime, and now we don't know what will happen —because Trump's policies aren't helping any immigrants.' Read more: Traveling in the U.S. will change in 2025: You can't fly from Miami without this document ICE Miami arrests migrant over driver's license issue. This offense could cost his freedom Major USCIS change after Trump's order: Key immigration form no longer accepted Elon Musk's favorite visa, backed by Trump, opens for registration to work legally in the U.S.
Korea Herald
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
US to take back Panama Canal from Chinese influence, visiting Pentagon chief says
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -- The United States will take back the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday during a visit to the Central American nation. Hegseth, following talks with Panama's government, vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panama's forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponize" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage. "Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence," Hegseth said, speaking at a pier renovated with US assistance in Panama City. "China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal and China will not weaponize this canal. Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations." More than 40 percent of US container traffic, valued at roughly $270 billion a year, goes through the Panama Canal, accounting for more than two-thirds of vessels passing each day through the world's second-busiest interoceanic waterway. Hegseth is expected to get a close-up look at the Panama Canal later on Tuesday, the first full day of a rare visit to a nation still unsettled by Trump's threats to take back the canal. While Hegseth spoke about removing Chinese influence, Trump has spoken in broader terms and not ruled out using military force, if necessary. Hegseth is the first US defense secretary to visit in decades, and his trip follows reports that the Trump administration has requested options from the US military to ensure access to the canal, which the United States built more than a century ago and handed over to Panama in 1999. Trump has complained that was a bad deal for the United States. Hegseth was greeted by Panama Public Security Minister Frank Abrego and held closed-door meetings with President Jose Raul Mulino and other officials. Given Trump's tough rhetoric, the stakes are high for Hegseth's visit. "On the whole, this hasn't been a winning issue for the United States in terms of public diplomacy in Panama," said Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Still, current and former US officials and experts say the United States has found a willing partner in tackling Chinese influence in Mulino. In February, Mulino announced Panama's formal move to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative and he has aided Trump's crackdown on migrants. He has accepted deportation flights of non-Panamanians and worked to stem migration from South America by those crossing through his country's dangerous Darien jungle. Hegseth praised Mulino, saying his government understood the threat from China, and his remarks about Panama being in the lead on addressing the canal's security concerns appeared to be a nod to Panamanian sensitivities. Hegseth, a US military veteran and former Fox News host, has enthusiastically backed Trump's southern-focused security agenda, by means such as dispatching US troops to the US border with Mexico and offering military aircraft for deportation flights. Security Concerns Trump has falsely claimed that China is operating the canal, something even Hegseth said was not true on Tuesday, and that Chinese soldiers are present. But experts acknowledge US security concerns, particularly regarding espionage, with an expansive Chinese commercial presence in Panama that also includes plans by Chinese firms to build a bridge over the canal. Last month, Trump celebrated a deal led by US firm BlackRock to buy most of the $22.8-billion ports business of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, including its ports on either end of the Panama Canal. Trump said the purchase was an example of how the United States was "reclaiming" the canal. But China has criticized it, with the market regulator saying it will carry out an antitrust review of the deal. Current and former US officials say the Panama Canal would be critical for the passage of US warships during any future conflict in Asia, since Navy vessels would transit from the Atlantic to the Pacific to support the war effort. Even without blocking the canal, China could have an enormous advantage by being able to surveil vessels passing through it. Still, John Feeley, who was US ambassador to Panama from 2015 to 2018, disputed the Trump administration's assertion that China's presence in Panama was a violation of the US-Panama treaty. "What's not legitimate about the way Trump has gone about this is the bullying tactic that he's used, which is to claim that there has been a violation of the neutrality treaty. There hasn't been," Feeley said. Mulino has defended Panama's administration of the canal, saying it has been handled responsibly for world trade, including that of the United States, and that it "is, and will continue to be, Panamanian."
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
‘Total uncertainty': Cuban migrants left in legal limbo under Trump's new policies
The rules have changed abruptly for thousands of Cuban migrants in the United States after the Trump administration canceled the humanitarian parole program launched under President Biden. More than 100,000 Cubans arrived in the U.S. under humanitarian parole. Many have not yet been in the country for a full year and are already receiving notices placing them in an uncertain immigration status. One of them is independent journalist and activist Lázaro Yuri Valle, who says he has spent over three decades opposing the Cuban government. Valle received a notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ordering him to leave the country by April 25, 2025. The letter arrived days after the parole program was officially canceled on March 25. Yuri and his wife, fellow activist Eralidis Frómeta, entered the U.S. on June 5, 2024, through an application submitted by a relative and approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Before emigrating, Valle served a three-year prison sentence in Cuba. He says he was physically and psychologically abused while incarcerated, and that his health was seriously impacted. 'We left in very poor psychological condition. We went straight to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to stay with my wife's family,' Valle told el Nuevo Herald. He says he was targeted by Cuban authorities for peaceful actions such as handing out leaflets with quotes from José Martí. Thousands of Cubans were able to settle in the U.S. through humanitarian parole. In South Florida, the program has drawn criticism for allegedly failing to screen individuals with ties to the Cuban regime. But the repeal offers no exceptions and now affects cases like Valle and Frómeta's, who say they had strong reasons to flee the island. Political asylum: The only way to avoid deportation? Valle says that if deported, he will continue to speak out against the Cuban government and plans to protest as soon as he lands in Havana. On Trump's actions, he said the president is 'fixing things however he wants,' without passing judgment. 'Trump follows the policies he finds convenient. Everyone cleans up their own house however they want. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but it's affecting those of us who have nothing to do with his politics,' he told el Nuevo Herald. Valle insists that both he and his wife have been victims of political persecution, and that international organizations have documented their cases. Among them, he cites the Organization of American States (OAS). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), through its Americas Program, has expressed concern on social media after learning that both received DHS letters warning of possible deportation. 'I thank this country for welcoming my wife and me. We shouldn't be going through this,' Valle said. 'But many of the regime's henchmen have arrived here and are still active here.' He warns that returning to Cuba would endanger his life. 'Going back would be a death sentence —a form of suicide after saving ourselves,' he said. It's an uncertain scenario for thousands of Cubans like them. Immigration attorneys agree that applying for asylum is a viable path to avoid deportation —as long as applicants meet legal and timing requirements. Attorney Wilfredo Allen told el Nuevo Herald that this is the most viable option for those who have not yet completed a year of physical presence in the U.S. and are hoping to qualify under the Cuban Adjustment Act. The cancellation of parole, effective April 25, will terminate the conditional release granted to beneficiaries upon entering the U.S., Allen explained. Those who haven't started another immigration process may face removal orders unless they apply for asylum or other legal relief. Faced with this situation, Valle and Frómeta decided to file for asylum, following advice from friends and attorneys. Frómeta, who was part of the Ladies in White movement in Cuba, said, 'We had no other choice,' and added that they are already receiving legal guidance. 'What will happen? I don't know. But we're sure we suffered under a dictatorship, and our story is documented in the media and by several international NGOs. We also have plenty of evidence and witnesses, including fellow activists who are now refugees here,' she said. 'Total uncertainty': Cubans with I-220A also at risk Another Cuban dissident awaiting a court ruling is activist Esteban Rodríguez, who also entered the U.S. with a Form I-220A. He says he shares the sense of uncertainty many of his fellow Cubans are feeling. Rodríguez, a member of the San Isidro Movement —whose leader, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, remains imprisoned in Cuba— arrived in the United States in 2022 after being forced into exile. Months earlier, he was arrested in Havana for peacefully protesting in support of Otero Alcántara, who was then on a hunger strike. From Miami, Rodríguez warns that Trump's new policies could jeopardize the safety of people who came to the U.S. seeking refuge. He says the new restrictions have renewed fears of deportation. Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate —an influential exile organization— called the potential repatriation of activists and human rights defenders 'deeply unjust.' 'Those who entered the country legally shouldn't be sent back to a totalitarian regime. Cubans have made great contributions to the U.S., and they deserve the opportunity to build a future here —especially those persecuted by the Havana regime,' Gutiérrez-Boronat told el Nuevo Herald. Political opponents aren't the only ones at risk. González, a 23-year-old Cuban who also arrived with an I-220A, told el Nuevo Herald his story and asked to be identified only by his last name. He still hasn't received a court date and remains vulnerable to possible deportation. 'Trump's policies are harsh on all Latinos. The future is uncertain —we don't know what could happen,' González said. 'You try to stay under the radar. If I get sent back to Cuba, I have family there —but it means starting over, maybe under surveillance. And then there's the depression, after getting used to a country where anything is possible and returning to one where even food is scarce.' Form I-220A, also known as a 'Parole Order,' is a temporary admission document similar to conditional parole. Immigration officials have used it for people entering across the southern border, including migrants from other countries, attorney Allen explained. The form has been the subject of litigation in immigration courts. A legal ruling determined that individuals holding I-220A do not meet the admission requirements for the Cuban Adjustment Act. 'There have been legal battles over I-220A and Cubans since 2018,' Allen said. However, some attorneys argue that it should count as valid admission for immigration purposes. An unprecedented moment for Cuban migrants For the first time since the Cuban Revolution, migrants from the island are facing a situation in the United States that contrasts with the welcome the country traditionally offered to those fleeing communism. The Cuban political system —described as authoritarian by numerous international organizations— is going through one of its most severe crises in decades, with growing reports of repression and crackdowns on dissent. Eduardo Gamarra, professor of political science and international relations at Florida International University (FIU), told el Nuevo Herald that this moment marks a significant departure from previous eras. He pointed to President Obama's January 2017 decision to end the 'wet foot, dry foot' policy as a turning point in U.S. policy toward Cuban migrants. Now, Trump's new measures are impacting people who have already been living in the United States for months —even those who entered through official channels like humanitarian parole. Gamarra believes part of the public narrative has painted a negative image of this new Cuban migration wave, which has, in turn, helped justify recent policy decisions. But similar dynamics have occurred before. He cites the 1980 Mariel boatlift as an example, which also sparked backlash against new arrivals. 'I worked with many Mariel boatlift cases, including in California. It was a unique experience —no one knew who these new Cubans were. Many had no ID, and there was a widespread perception that they were criminals or mentally unstable,' Gamarra said. 'But most of them weren't, and they played a key role in Miami's development.' Unlike in the 1980s, Gamarra notes that Cubans arriving under the Biden parole program underwent background checks. Still, some long-settled Cuban Americans have stigmatized the newcomers, using labels like 'Castro's animals' or 'communists.' He says those same terms still resonate in today's debates. Divided support and contradictions in immigration policy The parole program implemented by the Biden administration —which also benefited citizens of Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti— was one of the first to be challenged by President Trump upon his return to the White House. Since taking office again, the Republican leader has vowed to restrict what he calls an 'uncontrolled invasion' fueled by Democratic immigration policies. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), more than 110,000 Cubans were authorized to travel to the United States through the program, which has granted entry to over half a million people from participating countries. Despite recent restrictions, a significant portion of the Cuban American community continues to support Trump's rhetoric. An FIU poll published in October 2024 found that 68% of likely Cuban American voters in Miami-Dade County planned to vote for Trump in the November election. Cuban authorities have not released official figures on the number of nationals deported since Trump took office. However, a March 27 report indicated that a flight carrying 60 irregular Cuban migrants arrived in Havana from the United States. In February, Cuba's Ministry of the Interior reported another deportation flight with 104 passengers, including social media influencer Cinthya Medrano —known as 'La Cintumbare'— who had previously boasted online about her lifestyle in the U.S. and her access to government benefits. The profile of recent Cuban migrants has become a point of debate. FIU professor Eduardo Gamarra notes that some sectors believe not all are political refugees, but rather economic migrants seeking better opportunities. He adds that this narrative is reinforced by reports of some new arrivals returning to Cuba shortly after obtaining U.S. residency. 'People are like that—they create prejudices and comparisons,' Gamarra said. 'This perception isn't unique to Cubans; it happens with every migrant group. We don't yet know what political impact these new policies will have. In the end, it may be that economic performance —not immigration— determines the outcome for Trump and the Republican Party.' 'Trump gives us no respite' Laura, a Cuban migrant admitted through parole in July 2024, told el Nuevo Herald—asking to be identified only by her first name—that she felt 'desperate, like living in in a nightmare' upon hearing that the program had been revoked. She said she had just four months left before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act. Now, she fears losing her legal status despite entering the country lawfully. The 1966 law allows Cuban nationals to apply for legal permanent residency after one year and one day of physical presence in the U.S., provided they meet eligibility requirements. But the cancellation of parole has thrown plans into uncertainty for many who hoped to qualify. Immigration attorneys recommend applying for asylum as an alternative path —particularly for those who have not yet met the minimum time required under the Adjustment Act. Frustrated, Laura said she suffers from constant anxiety and doesn't currently have the financial means to hire an attorney or gather the necessary documentation for an asylum case. The climate of fear has disrupted the daily lives of many Cuban migrants, who now worry about being approached by immigration agents. 'I didn't have that fear before,' she said. 'But now? You don't know. I don't even feel safe driving.' That sense of vulnerability is shared by other recently arrived Cubans. Rodríguez, 53, who also requested to be identified only by her last name, told el Nuevo Herald she entered the U.S. using the CBP One mobile app after waiting five months in Mexico, where she arrived via a land route through Nicaragua. She now lives in Las Vegas. She recalls hearing Trump speak favorably about Cubans while visiting restaurants in the city. But now, she said, 'He gives us no respite. Not even as residents will we be able to move and live with peace of mind.' Rodríguez believes that both humanitarian parole and CBP One offered lifelines to people fleeing authoritarian regimes. 'We came to pursue our dreams, fight for opportunities, and build better lives,' she said. Recent deportations have sparked mixed reactions within the Cuban community. Some have chosen to self-deport rather than risk detention. Two weeks ago, news broke that 22-year-old Erick Dayan Corcho Aguilar, who had entered the U.S. through the parole program, voluntarily returned to Cuba after failing to renew his immigration status. Meanwhile, Yuliet Rodes, a Cuban immigrant living in Miami, said she was able to reunite her family through humanitarian parole. 'They all work and have integrated into society, and now they're terrified of being deported,' she said. 'Things in Cuba are awful —there's no medicine, no electricity, no drinking water.' Rodes concluded: 'I hope Cuba will one day be free. But for now, my family is here, working and paying taxes. All they want is to move forward and stay in the United States. We Cubans fled an oppressive regime, and now we don't know what will happen —because Trump's policies aren't helping any immigrants.' Read more: Traveling in the U.S. will change in 2025: You can't fly from Miami without this document
NBC News
08-04-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump was touting his Panama victory. Then China stepped in.
HONG KONG — A huge deal touted by President Donald Trump as a victory in his campaign to 'take back' the Panama Canal from China could be on the rocks amid pushback from Beijing. The $23 billion sale involving two ports run by CK Hutchison, a private company based in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, to a consortium led by U.S. investment firm BlackRock had originally been scheduled to be signed last week. But an agreement between the two has been delayed under pressure from China, whose market regulator launched a review of the deal as state-run newspapers attacked it as undermining China's national interests. NBC News takes a look at the sale and what it may mean politically and economically for the United States and China, the world's two biggest economies. Why is it important? During Trump's inaugural speech in January, he claimed without providing evidence that China controlled the 50-mile canal, and vowed that the U.S. will take back the waterway, which he said was 'vital' to national security. The Panamanian government has administered the U.S.-built canal since the U.S. relinquished it to the Central American country in 1999. Trump did not rule out military action and has directed the Defense Department to draw up plans to send more troops to Panama to 'reclaim' the canal, through which 40% of U.S. trade passes. Panama denies Trump's accusations about the neutrality of the canal, which is enshrined in its constitution. But in an attempt to relieve the pressure from Washington, in January the country launched an audit of CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company (PPC), which since 1997 has operated two ports along the canal, Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristóbal on the Atlantic side. On Monday, Panama's comptroller general said the audit had found that the contract was overly favorable to Hutchison PPC, costing Panama $1.3 billion in revenue, and that authorities would file a lawsuit against officials involved in its renewal in 2021. The findings come as CK Hutchison is negotiating the sale to BlackRock, which includes a 90% interest in the two Panama Canal ports and an 80% controlling interest in 43 other ports outside Hong Kong and China. When the deal was announced on March 4, the companies said that definitive documentation for the Panama Canal operations would be signed by April 2. Trump quickly declared victory. 'To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it,' he said in an address to Congress last month, citing the proposed deal. China's 'long-arm' jurisdiction The sale of the two Chinese-run ports is about more than just Panama, said Christopher Hernandez-Roy, senior fellow and deputy director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. 'It represents a major victory for the Trump administration's efforts to roll back China in the Western Hemisphere,' he said, adding that is something China 'would not want to happen.' Though CK Hutchison, owned by billionaire Li Ka-shing, is a private company based in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous territory, Beijing quickly signaled its displeasure with the deal. China 'firmly opposes using economic coercion and bullying to harm other countries' legitimate rights and interests,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said last week. Chinese government offices in Hong Kong have reposted articles from pro-Beijing newspapers criticizing the sale as undermining China's national interest. Beijing's market regulator has also said the sale is subject to an antitrust review 'to protect fair market competition and safeguard public interests.' The original signing date of April 2 came and went last week.
